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Alhambra loses arts gem with the closing of the Mosaic Lizard Theater

After 10 years in town, the Mosaic Lizard Theater, which brought original, family-friendly plays and theater workshops to Alhambra, is closing its doors after a final performance of its "Bat Knight Marathon" series this weekend.

The imminent closure comes after the City of Alhambra sold the Main Street property that the Mosaic Lizard Theater is housed in. The theater was asked to vacate last month with no chance of signing a new lease, according to the Pasadena Star News.

The Mosaic Lizard Theater had been running out of a dance studio for the first four years of its operation, until moving to its current location at 112 W Main St in 2011, which was then owned by the Alhambra Redevelopment Agency. With the agency's help, Parker made the theater venue what it is today.

The theater's fate has been up in the air since 2012, when the California Supreme Court ordered all of the state's redevelopment agencies to close. Four years later, that possibility of closing has unfortunately come to pass.

"It’s hard to let go," Parker said. "It’s like my cuts and bruises and scars came from here."

In addition, the city kept rent very low for the theater company, with Parker saying that he paid a nominal fee for the building's rent, along with operating and other such expenses. This allowed the Mosaic Lizard Theater to truly serve the community.

"Our admission prices are really low, and we made special arrangements for people who couldn’t afford that. Same with the workshops," he said. The theater company was also mentoring a new crop of young adults in the theater arts.

The Mosaic Lizard Theater will take a final bow with four performances of its Batman-inspired "Bat Knight Marathon." Shows are on Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 2 and 8 pm. Tickets are $12 for students and seniors, and $15 for adults.

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